Distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DPN) results in a remarkable functional imbalance that may expose patients with diabetic neuropathy to danger of falling during daily activities and becomes more severe as the severity of neuropathy aggravates, say authors of an article published online in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.

The authors designed a case-control study to test the ability of 214 patients with DPN and healthy people to control functional balance using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Furthermore, the correlation between diabetic neuropathy examination (DNE) and BBS scores were calculated using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Comparison of 2 groups showed a significant decline in the overall score of BBS in patients with DPN versus the healthy control group. The most challenging tasks for patients with DNP were single leg stance, tandem standing, and forward reaching, followed by standing unsupported with feet together, sit to stand, stand to sit, transfers, standing unsupported with closed eyes, and placing the alternative foot on a step or stool while standing unsupported. There was a significant strong negative (r=-0.77) correlation between DNE and BBS scores.